Texas wildfires

Cory Martin, left, and Jason Taggart of Santa Clara, Utah fire department watch the hilltop is a blaze in Palo Pinto County near Strawn, Texas on Monday, April 18, 2011. One of the driest spells in Texas history has left most of the state in extreme drought, and wildfires in various parts of the state have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land in the past week. Gov. Rick Perry asked President Barack Obama on Sunday for federal disaster funding, and forestry officials said Monday that the threat of new wildfires remained extremely high in the western part of the state.

Associated Press

An uncontrolled wildfire burns at the Jeff Davis and Presidio County line near Fort Davis, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2011. A fast-moving wildfire had spread to more than 60,000 acres in Presidio County and Jeff Davis County, where it destroyed about 20 homes in Fort Davis.

Associated Press

A hilltop is a blaze in Palo Pinto County near Strawn, Texas on Monday, April 18, 2011. One of the driest spells in Texas history has left most of the state in extreme drought, and wildfires in various parts of the state have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land in the past week. Gov. Rick Perry asked President Barack Obama on Sunday for federal disaster funding, and forestry officials said Monday that the threat of new wildfires remained extremely high in the western part of the state.

Associated Press

A hilltop is a blaze in Palo Pinto County near Strawn, Texas on Monday, April 18, 2011. One of the driest spells in Texas history has left most of the state in extreme drought, and wildfires in various parts of the state have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land in the past week. Gov. Rick Perry asked President Barack Obama on Sunday for federal disaster funding, and forestry officials said Monday that the threat of new wildfires remained extremely high in the western part of the state.

Associated Press

Fires re-ignited during the day Monday due to the extreme dry weather and the high temperatures. The hills in southeast Coke County made it difficult for firefighters to reach the flames.

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times

Travis McGregor, a firefighter called in from California, watches Juniper bushes go up in flames on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, as he and other fire crew members light a burnout line along Ranch Road 2886 to meet the approaching wildfire in West Texas.

Associated Press

A truck drives along FM 1148 near Possum KIngdom Lake Saturday April 16, 2011 near Mineral Wells, Texas. Some Texas residents returned Saturday to homes and ranches ravaged by wildfires that have scorched hundreds of thousands of acres across the drought-stricken state.

Associated Press

A power line destroyed by a wildfire is shown in Fort Davis, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2011. A fast-moving wildfire had spread to more than 60,000 acres in Presidio County and Jeff Davis County, where it destroyed about 20 homes in Fort Davis.

Associated Press

A Texas Forest Service map showing the containment area of the Swenson Fire in Stonewall and King counties.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

An emergency worker watches a Travis Co. Star Flight helicopter after it dropped water on a wildfire that destroyed homes in southwest Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 17.

Associated Press

Standing in front of a burned out fire truck, volunteer firefighter Steve Forbus pauses while he talks about the firefighter that was killed while trying to escape a wildfire that burned the truck in Eastland County near Gorman, Texas, Saturday, April 16, 2011. "It was a very emotional day for us," said Forbus. Volunteer firefighter Gregory M. Simmons, 51, died as he and other firefighters fled the truck as it was being overrun by flames. Simmons fell in a ditch where the fire caught him, according to an official.

Associated Press

A Travis Co. Star Flight helicopter drops water on a wildfire that destroyed homes in southwest Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

Associated Press

Cory Martin of the Santa Clara, Utah fire department battles the wild fires in Palo Pinto County near Strawn, Texas on Monday, April 18, 2011. One of the driest spells in Texas history has left most of the state in extreme drought, and wildfires in various parts of the state have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land in the past week. Gov. Rick Perry asked President Barack Obama on Sunday for federal disaster funding, and forestry officials said Monday that the threat of new wildfires remained extremely high in the western part of the state.

Associated Press

Smoke rises in the air as wildfire in Coke County, Texas, burns on Monday afternoon, April 18, 2011.

Tommy Metthe/Reporter-News

Texas Forest Service spokesman Lee McNeely, right, and Stonewall County Judge Ronnie Moorhead look over a map showing the boundaries of the 'Swenson Fire,' a large range fire that consumed more than 70,000 acres over a five-day period.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

A Texas Forest Service air tanker drops fire retardant near a home in Coke County, Texas, while fighting a wildfire Monday afternoon, April 18, 2011.

Tommy Metthe/Reporter-News

First Baptist of Possum Kingdom Lake secretary Bobbie Worsham tries to open the door of the charred church safe near Possum Kingdom Lake Saturday April 16, 2011 near Mineral Wells, Texas. Some Texas residents returned Saturday to homes and ranches ravaged by wildfires that have scorched hundreds of thousands of acres across the drought-stricken state.

Associated Press

Debris and burned trees are shown on Monday, April 18, 2011, a day after a massive wildfire ravaged the Austin, Texas, wildfire. The fire damaged at least 21 homes.

April Castro/AP

A utility pole smolders in Palo Pinto County near Strawn, Texas on Monday, April 18, 2011. One of the driest spells in Texas history has left most of the state in extreme drought, and wildfires in various parts of the state have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land in the past week. Gov. Rick Perry asked President Barack Obama on Sunday for federal disaster funding, and forestry officials said Monday that the threat of new wildfires remained extremely high in the western part of the state.

Associated Press

The Hwy 180 shoulder continues to burn as a fuel tanker passes Saturday April 16, 2011 near Mineral Wells, Texas. Some Texas residents returned Saturday to homes and ranches ravaged by wildfires that have scorched hundreds of thousands of acres across the drought-stricken state.

Associated Press

A hilltop is a blaze in Palo Pinto County near Strawn, Texas on Monday, April 18, 2011. One of the driest spells in Texas history has left most of the state in extreme drought, and wildfires in various parts of the state have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land in the past week.

Associated Press

A U.S. Forest Service helicopter drops it's load near a home in Coke County to ward off an advancing wildfire that re-ignited Monday afternoon. The rugged terrain made it difficult for firefighters to reach the flames and having to rely on aircraft.

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times

Officials estimate the "Swenson Fire" in Stonewall and King counties consumed more than 103,000 acres. It reportedly destroyed at least two unoccupied homes, more than 250 utility poles and resulted in the loss of several head of cattle. By Monday afternoon, the Texas Forest Service reported the fire had been 80 percent contained.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

A half-eaten Juniper bush, one of many ignited by fire crews along Ranch Road 2886 to greet the edge of a growing wildfire south of Iraan, Texas, burns on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.

Associated Press

A charred fence post hangs suspended by barbed wire along Highway 83 north of Aspermont in Stonewall County. A large range fire consumed more than 70,000 acres over a five day period.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

Trucks at a Possum Kingdom home are destroyed by the wildfires, Saturday April 16, 2011 near Mineral Wells, Texas. Some Texas residents returned Saturday to homes and ranches ravaged by wildfires that have scorched hundreds of thousands of acres across the drought-stricken state.

Associated Press

A Travis Co. Star Flight helicopter drops water on a wildfire that destroyed homes in southwest Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

Associated Press

Thick plumes of smoke and ash fill the sky over southeast Coke County Monday afternoon due to an advancing wildfire. Crews continued to battle the blaze from the air due to the hilly terrian in the area.